Current Winner
2009 NSERC Doctoral Prize

Anne Broadbent

Quantum Computing

Université de Montréal

Anne Broadbent

Discoveries made in the mysterious world of quantum information processing have caused scientists and the public alike to readjust their views about the nature of the world. Research conducted by Anne Broadbent at the Université de Montréal, which earned her a 2009 NSERC Doctoral Prize, has continued that tradition by creating a better understanding of the puzzling quantum phenomenon known as entanglement.

Quantum entanglement involves what Albert Einstein referred to as "spooky action at a distance," with two or more particles being connected to one another in a way that makes them seem to behave as one, even if they are located far apart. The ability to control and exploit this characteristic has tremendous implications for communications, information processing and security.

Dr. Broadbent's work has paved the way to new approaches to traditional physics problems and pointed out errors in existing thinking about quantum physics. In the ongoing quest to create a quantum computer, she has demonstrated that the entanglement-based model of computation holds more promise for success than the traditional circuit-based approach. She has also developed cryptographic protocols that make it possible to send a perfectly secure anonymous quantum message, even in the presence of malicious participants, or to set up a perfectly secure voting system.